The first license for a CMI invention was granted for a recycling process developed by CMI researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory.
The first license for a CMI invention was granted for a recycling process developed by CMI researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory. They have applied for a patent for "Membrane Solvent Extraction for Rare Earth Separations."
- Official news release from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Aug. 10, 2015
- Co-inventor Eric Peterson describes the process as "ionic tweezers."
This first license was important progress toward the goal of the Critical Materials Institute to develop at least one technology adopted by U.S. companies in each of three areas: Diversifying supply, developing substitutes and reducing wastes.
During the first two years of CMI, researchers created 34 invention disclosures. For nine of those, patent applications were filed. link to CMI invention disclosures